🔥 Gündem H-1B Visa Fee Hike: What You Need to Know About the Proposed Changes

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a significant increase in the H-1B visa fee, specifically for cap-subject petitions ¹³⁴.

Proposed H-1B Fee Increase

The proposed regulation suggests establishing a new fee of $103,265 for all H-1B cap-subject petitions ¹⁴⁵. This includes petitions that are eligible for the advanced degree exemption ¹⁴.

Key Details of the Proposal:

• Targeted Petitions: The fee applies to H-1B cap-subject petitions ¹⁴. These are petitions that fall under the annual numerical limit (cap) set by the U.S. Congress.
• Advanced Degree Exemption: Even petitions filed by individuals with advanced degrees (who are typically exempt from the regular cap but still subject to a separate advanced degree cap) will be subject to this proposed fee ¹⁴.
• Current Status: This is a proposed regulation by the DHS ¹²³. The Federal Register posted the notice on a Monday, indicating the official step towards this change ³⁶.
• Context: This move is part of broader efforts by the U.S. government to introduce new fees targeting H-1B and F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs ².
• Previous Attempts: It's worth noting that a similar fee was imposed last year but was subsequently blocked by the courts ⁶.

This substantial increase, if finalized, would represent a significant financial burden for companies sponsoring H-1B visas and could have a considerable impact on foreign professionals, particularly those from countries like India, who are major beneficiaries of the H-1B program ²⁵.